The owner of popular Brooklyn restaurant and wedding spot reBar was arraigned in Brooklyn’s criminal court Thursday and charged with grand larceny in the second degree and criminal tax fraud in the second degree, according to Sheila Stainback, a spokeswoman for the Brooklyn District Attorney.

Jason Stevens abruptly closed his restaurant last Friday, emailing a handful of employees to say that his restaurant in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood was “bankrupt and closed.” Dozens of employees did not receive their last paycheck, and engaged couples were left in the lurch. The venue was booked with events through next year, according to former reBar staff.

The investigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney centers on Mr. Stevens’ failure to pay more than $1 million in taxes, said Ms. Stainback, and not an investigation of reBar’s closure. Brides and grooms looking to recoup wedding deposits would need to pursue that in civil court, she said.

Mr. Stevens’ lawyer, Allan Bahn, had no comment.

In the days since the restaurant’s closure, former reBar employees and soon-to-be-married couples scrambled to keep wedding dates, banding together with the wider Brooklyn community to pull off last-minute arrangements.

A sign outside of reBar.

Adam Janos for The Wall Street Journal

The news of Mr. Stevens’ arrest was “sweet justice, but it’s bittersweet,” said Brian Cavanaugh, who was to have his wedding at reBar on June 7. Mr. Cavanaugh, 28, who works for a foundation, and his bride, Heather Epstein, 27, are still trying to pull off their 70-person wedding, albeit a scaled-down affair. The couple said they paid $19,000 to have their wedding at reBar. “We know our money is gone,” said Mr. Cavanaugh.

“Individually, it’s been devastating for all of us,” said Mr. Cavanaugh of the other brides and grooms affected by reBar’s closure. Together the couples have created a community, he said, meeting up with attorneys. “Out of this devastating experience is coming some positive, especially with the Brooklyn community. And that’s hopeful,” he said.

According to a spokeswoman for the Brooklyn District Attorney, Mr. Stevens’ bail was set for $30,000 cash and $100,000 bond. He was released, and the case was adjourned.

Corrections & amplifications: An earlier version of this article said bail was set at $300,000 cash.